Faucet & Valve Repair in Johns Creek, GA

A countertop replacement is an ideal time to tackle faucet and valve repair in a Johns Creek kitchen or bathroom. The old faucet has to come off anyway, the shutoff valves are exposed, and the new surface will be drilled to suit whatever faucet you choose. A little planning before the fabricator arrives keeps the project from stalling on the day the stone goes in.

Choose the faucet before the template

The fabricator drills faucet and accessory holes for the fixtures you plan to use, so late decisions are hard to undo. Before the template appointment, settle on:

• The faucet model, how many holes it needs and the hole diameter it specifies.
• Any extras, such as a soap dispenser, a side sprayer, a separate filtered-water faucet or a dishwasher air gap.
• Where the faucet sits relative to an undermount sink, so the spout reaches the drain and the handle clears the backsplash.
• The countertop thickness, because some faucets need a longer mounting kit for thick stone.

Give the fabricator the faucet's specification sheet, which shows the hole size and the clearance the handle needs. If you decide to keep a good existing faucet instead, the faucet and valve service overview explains the repairs that can give it a fresh start.

The disconnect visit

Before the old tops come out, the plumbing has to be disconnected: the faucet supply lines, the drain and trap, the disposal, and the dishwasher supply and drain. This is the moment to test the shutoff valves. Stops that are stiff, weeping or slow to close are easy to replace now, with the cabinets empty and the counters off, and much more awkward later. If the dishwasher connects to a dual-outlet stop, that valve gets the same check.

The reconnect visit

1. The new counter and sink are set, and any sink adhesive or sealant cures for the time the fabricator specifies.
2. The new faucet is mounted with its gasket and hardware, aligned from above and tightened below.
3. The drain, trap and disposal are reconnected, with the disposal flange set in fresh putty or the gasket its manufacturer supplies.
4. The dishwasher drain is reconnected with a high loop or an air gap, as the installation calls for, and its supply line is attached.
5. Water is restored, the lines are flushed with the aerator off, and every connection under the sink is checked with the faucet, disposal and dishwasher all running.

Same spot or a new layout

If the sink stays where it was, reconnecting it is a fixture job. If the remodel moves the sink to an island or a different wall, the supply and drain piping must be extended or rerouted, which brings in drain work and a permit. Drain changes of that kind fall under drain repair in Johns Creek, and a disposal being replaced at the same time is covered by garbage disposal replacement.

Permit rules in Johns Creek

The city's permit checklist says repairing or replacing a plumbing fixture in the same spot needs no permit, while fixture work that alters piping does. Under the city code, permits go to contractors holding a state license, or to an owner who lives in the home.

Countertop and faucet questions in Johns Creek

Can the old faucet go back on the new countertop?

Sometimes. A faucet in good working order can be reinstalled if its hole count and diameter reach the fabricator before the template and its mounting kit suits the new countertop's thickness. Many owners still choose a new one, since a faucet that has been in service for years is easier to replace now than after the stone and backsplash are finished.

Do I need a permit to reconnect my sink after new countertops?

Not when the sink and faucet go back where they were, since the city treats that as replacing a fixture in place. Moving the sink to an island or another wall is different: pipe has to be extended or rerouted to reach it, and that is the point to bring the city in before any of the work begins.

Should the shutoff valves be replaced during a remodel?

Often, yes. A stop that is stiff, weeps at the stem or closes slowly will be far harder to reach once the new stone, backsplash and sink are in, and the water is already off for the disconnect. Valves that shut off fully and stay dry can stay where they are.

Planning the plumbing around your countertops

If new countertops are coming to your Johns Creek kitchen or bath, call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 before the template appointment, so the faucet choice, the disconnect and the reconnect line up with your fabricator's schedule.